By Richard Johnstone | 6 October 2014
Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude has revealed the coalition is on track to reduce the number of government buildings in central London to just 23 by 2020, by moving offices to the suburbs.
In an update to the government’s Estate Strategy, Maude said the number of properties had already been cut from 143 in 2010 to 71, by vacating offices or sharing buildings.
Maude said that relocating half of London-based civil servants away from Whitehall and in to satellite offices, such as a Home Office base in Croydon, could save taxpayers billions by 2030.
The Cabinet Office is now working with local authorities to look at new location options in areas like Stratford and Croydon, he revealed.
‘As part of our long-term economic plan this government is cutting waste to save taxpayers millions,’ Maude said.
‘Since 2010 we have got out of property 26 times the size of Buckingham Palace and halved our government buildings in London.
‘Hard-working families expect us to do more and we will, shortly after 2020 there should be just 23 government buildings in our capital, releasing surplus space for housing and businesses.’
Since the coalition came to power Whitehall departments and agencies have moved out of 1,650 buildings across the UK, saving more than £600m in cumulative running costs and raising £1.4bn in capital receipts.
